MUM IN LONDONTOWN
Having my mum visit was such a joy!
Our family time meant the world to me — sharing stories, laughter and those unforgettable experiences that I know I’ll cherish forever.
Sharing these moments with some of our extended English family made it all the more memorable.
Of course, it was practically a rite of passage to show a London visitor all the must-see spots — even when that visitor happens to be your mum, who has already been there, done that!
We kicked things off with the buzz and energy of Piccadilly Circus, wandered through the beautiful oasis of St James’s Park (those flowerbeds were an absolute feast for the eyes), admired the regal beauty of Buckingham Palace, grabbed a cheeky peek at Downing Street, marvelled at Horse Guards Parade and treated ourselves to a quintessentially British cream tea at Fortnum & Mason.
Then it was onto the wonderfully chaotic and eclectic streets of Chinatown and Camden Town — two places bursting with colour, character and enough people to rival the London Underground at rush hour!
I also shared some of my favourite spots closer to home. Ally Pally and Kenwood House showed off their spectacular views across London, while the revamped King’s Cross was buzzing with summer energy.
Of course, there was the obligatory trip to Arsenal — purely to keep Oliver happy (although I’m still a die-hard Manchester United fan, and Mum, unfortunately, is proudly an honorary Liverpudlian!).
But some of the biggest highlights came from something Mum absolutely loves ... sport!!
A lover of athletics (and sport in general, like most Saffas!!), she was completely in her element at the London Athletics Meet.
Walking into the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Stadium was incredible — seeing thousands of people gathered together to celebrate sport was quite something.
We simply couldn’t miss this opportunity, especially with so many of the world’s top athletes preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympics just weeks later.
With events happening all around the stadium, keeping track of everything was almost a sport in itself! The cheers, encouragement and incredible performances — the whole place was buzzing.
Watching Mum completely immersed in it all, cheering (okay… shouting!) from her seat and soaking up every second made the whole thing even more fun.
Cricket was always going to feature — no trip with Mum would be complete without it!
Summer vibes were in full swing at The Hundred cricket tournament, and let me tell you — it was an absolute blast.
My mum, a true cricket lover who has watched it on TV for years, was completely in her element.
Seeing a live match at Lord’s Cricket Ground had always been a dream of hers, so watching her experience the magic of being there in person was such an incredible moment.
And Oliver? Well… he needed a little cricket education!
We gave him a crash course in all the important terminology — from “LBW” to “sticky wicket” — and watching his face as he tried to make sense of it all was genuinely laugh-out-loud funny.
I’m still not convinced he understands why a batter scoring zero runs is called a “duck” (well, I guess it’s a very fair question?!).
Thankfully, the brilliant entertainment and incredible atmosphere kept him fully engaged, and before long he was swept up in the excitement too.
If there's one thing Mum's visit reminded me of, it's that time really is life's greatest gift.
The places were wonderful, but they were never the point.
I'll remember the conversations, the way her face lit up, hearing her laugh, watching her cheer louder than anyone else, and simply knowing she was having the time of her life.
Those are the moments I'll treasure most.
Long after the photographs have been filed away and the suitcases unpacked, they'll still make me smile.
I'd choose memories like these over any sightseeing itinerary, every single time.
